Canada's PM denies right-wing agenda

TORONTO (AP) — Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Tuesday that he won't shift to the hard right after his Conservatives won a long-sought majority in Canada's Parliament.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper says he won't move Canada to the hard right.

Monday's elections mark a change in the country's political landscape with opposition Liberals and Quebec separatists suffering a punishing defeat. Harper said the Conservatives won their mandate because of the way they have governed so far, and he sought to allay fears he would implement a hidden right-wing agenda.

Harper, who took office in 2006, has won two elections but until Monday's vote had never held a majority of Parliament's 308 seats, forcing him to rely on the opposition to pass legislation.

Harper has deliberately avoided sweeping policy changes, but he now has an opportunity to pass any legislation he wants with his new majority.

"We got that mandate because of the way we have governed, and Canadians expect us to continue to move forward in the same way," said Harper, who has gradually moved Canada to the right.

Harper has lowered sales and corporate taxes, avoided climate change legislation and promoted Arctic sovereignty. He has also increased military spending, extended Canada's military mission in Afghanistan and staunchly backed Israel. But he also stood by Canada's state-run health care system.

The White House said President Obama called Harper to congratulate him on his victory and said Obama wants to renew a commitment to improve security and trade along the border. Harper also congratulated Obama for his successful operation against Osama bin Laden.

Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe also lost his seat and immediately resigned.

The leftist New Democratic Party went from one seat in Quebec to 58 and became the main opposition party, with 102 seats overall, tripling their overall support in a stunning setback for the Liberals.

The Liberals, who ruled Canada for much of the last century, dropped to 34 seats from 77 ? finishing third for the first time in Canadian history.

Harper counted on the economy to help hand him the majority. Canada has outperformed other major industrialized democracies through the financial crisis, recovering almost all the jobs lost during the recession while its banking sector remains intact. He said he would continue his plan to create jobs and growth without raising taxes.

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